US says to stand by Pakistan in fight against terrorism

WASHINGTON, Aug 9 (APP): The United States has said it will stand with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, and strongly condemn the bomb blast in Quetta that killed several dozens people.

A US State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau when asked about withhold of military assistance and if the United States really believed that Pakistan was providing shelter to some of the terrorist group, said that Pakistan has said that they will go after all terrorists regardless of affiliation.

“We stand with Pakistan as they move forward on this fight against terror,” she said while referring the question on the military aid to Department of Defense.

The spokesperson said that the US condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Quetta, including the murder of Bilal Anwar Kasi, president of the Baluchistan Bar Association, in the bombing at the Civil Hospital that killed dozens of Pakistanis and wounded many others.

“We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, and we offer our assistance to Prime Minister Sharif as his government investigates and works to bring these murderers to justice,” she added.

These terrorists targeted a hospital, the judiciary, and the media, the most important pillars of democracy, the spokesperson said, adding that these brutal and senseless attacks only deepen shared resolve to defeat terrorism around the world.

“We’ll continue to work with our partners in Pakistan and across the region to combat this threat.”

Responding to a question about a report regarding threats of nuclear warfare, she stated that the US believed that regional safety and security actually was the responsibility not only of Pakistan and India to speak directly to each other but also to have that support within the broader international community.

She said that violence was a concern for the US but issues like this were best resolved through dialogue between the two countries.